The Odyssey officially took the crown as the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time, knocking Deadpool and Wolverine out of the top spot. Ryan Reynolds, who starred in the previous record-holder, couldn’t be happier about the shift.
During the premiere of his new project Mayday at AMC Lincoln Square in New York City on Tuesday night, Reynolds shared his thoughts on the current state of cinema, Variety reports. He was full of praise for the team behind the record-breaking blockbuster. “Obviously, [The Odyssey] is an incredible, incredible movie. Christopher Nolan literally breathes the rarest air on Earth. He’s a singular filmmaker,” Reynolds said.
He also made sure to give a shout-out to the talent involved, noting that Matt Damon and Tom Holland are doing fantastic work. For Reynolds, the specific film matters less than the act of people showing up to cinemas. He emphasized that he just wants audiences to keep showing up because there is no better shared experience than sitting in a theater.
Reynolds is currently busy promoting Mayday
Mayday is an Apple Original Films project that drops on Apple TV on September 4. It is his first major role since his turn in Deadpool and Wolverine more than two years ago. The film is set during the tail end of the Cold War and follows a U.S. Navy pilot who finds himself stuck behind enemy lines. He ends up forming an unexpected bond with a former KGB agent, played by Kenneth Branagh, who is obsessed with 1980s American culture.
The project gave Reynolds a chance to dive into the reality of the 1980s, a decade he feels is often misunderstood in modern media. While projects like Stranger Things lean into a neon-soaked, fun version of the era, Reynolds thinks that approach misses the mark. He argued that society tends to smooth over the rougher edges of history.
“When you get far enough away from a time period that’s quite distinct, there’s always a lovely feeling associated with it, almost like you pave over all the trauma with puppy dogs and ice cream,” Reynolds said. He pointed out that the decade was actually “a f—ing mess” for many people.
Between the constant fear of nuclear war, the collapse of American manufacturing, and the devastating AIDS epidemic, the era was defined by significant strife. He noted that people look back now and only recall the movies or the excesses, forgetting that it was a truly scary time.
Looking ahead, Reynolds had some thoughts on how future generations might look back at our current decade. He suggested that creators might focus on the big cultural moments that didn’t leave as much of a lasting impact as people currently expect. Regardless of how the 2020s are remembered, he is optimistic about the present. He believes we are living through “the friggin’ salad days,” even if we don’t realize it yet.
Fans of his work in the Marvel universe might still see him return to the screen sooner than expected. Reynolds teased at San Diego Comic-Con that he could pop up in Avengers: Doomsday later this year. He even made a surprise appearance in Hall-H wearing a grey denim version of his Deadpool suit to pester Paul Rudd about Thor.
Published: Sep 3, 2026 05:00 pm